China: 'One Hundred Children in the Long Spring'. Children playing cuju, a precursor of football. Song Dynasty painter Su Hanchen (fl. 1130-1160 CE)

Su Hanchen was a native of Kaifeng, Henan, who specialized in painting Buddhist and Taoist figures. During the Xuanhe era (1119-1125) under Emperor Huizong of the Northern Song, he was a Painter-in-Attendance at the imperial academy.

After the court moved south, Su resumed in his position there, and, in the early Longxing era (1163-1164) of Emperor Xiaozong, he was praised for his Buddhist paintings.

Su Hanchen was a master of observation and description who knew that children at play are in a state of natural ease. His ability to capture the spirit and appearance of such children made him the most renowned painter in this genre.

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